More than 1,000 students join RE innovation workshop

On September 29, 2026, the University of Finance – Marketing (UFM) organized the “RE Innovation Workshop: From Ideas to Innovative Projects for Sustainable Communities” at its 27 Tan My Campus. The event attracted 1,000 students, including 500 attending in person and another 500 joining online.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Cao Tan Huy, Vice President of UFM, emphasized that student entrepreneurship and innovation should go beyond generating ideas or participating in competitions. More importantly, students need to develop the ability to identify real-world problems, analyze actual needs, validate ideas, and turn them into feasible solutions.

For projects aimed at communities and sustainable development, UFM encourages students to focus not only on novelty but also on the problems to be addressed, target beneficiaries, value creation, and project feasibility. The University considers entrepreneurship and innovation an integral part of education, enabling students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life challenges.

Mr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), delivered the opening presentation, highlighting innovation, project development, and opportunities to connect student ideas with practical needs. The participation of UFM and NIC further strengthened the connection between higher education and Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.

The workshop also featured the session “From School to Market” presented by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam of UFM. The session focused on transforming academic ideas into practical projects by validating concepts, refining solutions, and aligning them with the needs of users, markets, and communities.
Ms. Le Ngoc Mai, National Youth Coordinator for Youth and Innovation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, introduced sustainable development initiatives and encouraged students to approach innovation from a broader perspective, with greater attention to social challenges, beneficiaries, and long-term impact.

A highlight of the program was the interactive discussion with Mr. Pham Dinh Long, Regional Coordinator for Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UNDP in Asia and the Pacific. Students actively raised questions on identifying real-world problems, validating needs, developing ideas, designing projects, and improving the feasibility of innovative solutions.

Through a series of presentations and discussions involving UFM, innovation-support organizations, experts, and students, the RE Innovation Workshop created a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and practical learning.

More importantly, the program encouraged students to shift from simply “finding a new idea” toward a more systematic innovation process: identifying the right problem, validating needs, developing solutions, assessing impact, and implementing projects.
The workshop reflects UFM’s continued efforts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation among students, while encouraging the development of practical initiatives that can generate sustainable value for communities.

Thu Hang, Thao Vy, Phuoc Hoa